Apparatus for forming feed crop material into rolls of unifrom density



Nav. s, 196s A w. BUSHMEYER 3,408,925

APPARATUS FOR 'FORMING FEED CROP MATERIAL INTO ROLLS OF UNIFORM DENSITYFiled May 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheetl 327-7 if; df

Nov. 5, 1968 BUSHMEYER 3,408,925

R. APPARATUS FOR F ING FEED CROP MATERIAL INTO ROLLS OF UNIFORM DENSITYFiled May 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM@ @wf @6W United States PatentAPPARATUS FOR FORMING FEED CROP MATERIAL INTO ROLLS F UNIFORM DENSITYRichard W. Bushmeyer, Rockford, Ill., assignor to J. I. Case Company, acorporation of Wisconsin Filed May 9, 1967, Ser. No. 637,280 Claims.(Cl. 10U- 45) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLSURE Feed crop material is fed intothe apparatus as the apparatus is driven or pulled across a eld, and isformed into an elongated roll of substantially uniform density that ismoved axially from the apparatus. The apparatus has speed control meansto vary the rate of the axial movement of the roll, and load sensingmeans to regulate the speed control means. As the apparatus is movedacross the field at a uniform speed, the amount of feed crop materialfed to it varies as the yield of the crop varies in different portionsof the iield. ln areas of reduced yield, the rate of axial movement ofthe roll is reduced proportionally, and in areas of increased yield, therate is increased, and thus the density of the roll, and of the pelletsinto which the roll is cut, is maintained substantially uniform.

The general structure of a pelleting machine in which the structuralfeatures of the present invention may be incorporated is disclosed inthe Bushmeyer et al. application Ser. No. 504,972, filed Oct. 24, 1965,and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

In the prior art, as exemplified by the above mentioned application, thewrapping rollers have been resiliently mounted to accommodate variationsin the rate of feeding the crop material into the machine.

The present invention relates to roll forming apparatus for use with apelleting device of the type described in the above mentionedapplication, and is particularly concerned with means for maintainingthe density of the roll substantially uniform. In the illustratedembodiment, as the feed crop material, such as hay, for example, ispicked up from a windrow, or the like, it is wrapped into a roll in awrapping chamber formed by three wrapping rollers. The wrapping rollersare mounted in skewed relationship to impart an axial movement to theroll of feed crop material so as to eject it from the machine. Theskewed relationship of the wrapping rollers is fixed, and the rate ofthe axial movement of the roll is regulated either by varying therotational speed of the wrapping rollers or by varying the rotationalspeed of a spindle mounted so as to extend axially through the wrappingchamber.

The rotational speed of the Wrapping rollers, or of the spindle, isvaried by speed control means that are regulated by load sensing means.The load sensing means may be actuated by relative movement of thewrapping rollers, or by relative movement of a pair of crushing rollersthat may be mountedV forwardly of the wrapping rollers.

Structure by means of which the above mentioned and other advantages ofthe invention are attained will be fully described in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsshowing a few preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, showing individually pivotedbrackets for supporting the ends of the wrapping rollers;

f`ice FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan View, taken along the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1; and I FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment ofthe roll forming apparatus. y

Referring to the drawings, the roll forming apparatus will be describedwithout specific reference'to the structure that enables it to be movedthrough a field from which the feed crop material is to be removed, thefinishing rollers that continue the compacting and the axial movement ofthe elongated roll at least until it is cut into pellets, or the cuttingmechanism for cutting the elongated roll of crop material into pellets.The above mentioned featuresl are not shown in this application becausethey are described in the above mentioned patent application and do notcomprise part of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus is secured tothe bed of a vehicle adapted to be pulled or driven across a fieldcontaining crops previously harvested by any suitable cutting mechanism.The crop material is fed, in any suitable manner, into a wrappingchamber formed between three continuously rotated, especially shapedwrapping rollers 11, 12, and 13, which in the drawings are in the formof hyperboloids. The rollers are mounted in skewed relationship to movethe roll of feed crop material axially of the rollers.

The rollers 11, 12 and 13 have shafts 14, 15 and 16 that are journaledin bearings 17 and 18, 19 and 21, and 22 and 23, respectively. Thebearings 17, 19 and 22 are mounted in a bracket structure 24, and thebearings 18, 21 and 23 are mounted in a bracket structure 25. Thebracket structures are alike, except that the structure 25 isoperatively connected to the load sensing means, as hereinafterdescribed, and the structure 24 is free of such connection. The bracketstructure comprises a base support member 26 rigidly secured to the bedof the lvehicle carrying the apparat-us, and three brackets 27, 28, and29, each having one of the bearings mounted therein, The bracket 27 ispivoted to one end of the base support member 26, as indicated at 31,and the brackets 28 and 29 are pivoted to the opposite end of the basesupport member, as indicated at 32. The bracket 29 has an elongated slot30 through which the pivot pin 31 extends. The slot permits the bracket29 to move about its pivot 32. The pivotal mounting of the bracketsallows rollers 11, 12, and 13 to move outwardly from the axis of thewrapping chamber whenever the rate of feeding the crop material into thewrapping chamber increases to where there is an outward force exerted onthe rollers.

The outward movement of the brackets 27,28 and 29 is opposed bycompression springs 33, 34 and 35, respectively, which urge the bracketsback toward their initial positions whenever the rate of feeding thecrop material into the wrapping chamber is reduced. The bracket 27 isprovided with an upstanding arm 36 at its end remote from the pivot 31,and the bracket 28 is provided with an upstanding arm 37 parallel to thearm 36. Plates 38 and 39, respectively, are held against the outersurfaces of the arms 36 and 37 by the springs 33 and 34 for reasonshereinafter disclosed. The spring 33 is biased between the plate 38 anda washer 41 mounted on one end of a rod 42. The rod 42 extends throughopenings in the plate 38 and the arm 36, and is screwed into a threadedopening in the arm 37, or is secured to the arm 37 in any other suitablemanner. The spring 34 encircles a rod 44 and is biased between the plate39 and a washer 43 secured adjacent the outer end of the rod 44. The rod44 extends through openings in the plate 39 and the arm 37, and isscrewed into a threaded opening in the arm 36. When the arms 36 and 37are forced apart by outward movement of the rollers 11 and 12, the arm37 pulls the rod 42 to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and compressesthe spring 33. The arm 36 similarly pulls the rod 44 to theright, asviewed in FIGURE 2. The relative movement between the arms 36 and 37moves a cord or cable comprising part of a speed control mechanismhereinafter described. When the force pushing the rollers 11 and 12outwardly is released, the springs 33 and 34 push the arms 36 and 37toward each other. The spring 35 is mounted on a rod 46 and is biasedbetween the bracket 29 and a plate 45 extending outwardly from the basesupport member 26. Thespring 35 permits the roller 13 to be movedoutwardly, so that the roll of feed crop material remains centeredrelative to the rollers 11, 12 and 13.

The springs 33, 34 and 35 cooperate to move the brackets 27, 28, and 29toward their initial positions upon any reduction in the rate at whichthe feed crop material is fed into the wrapping chamber. The springs maybe adjusted to provide any desired tension on` the wrapping rollers.

The elongated roll of crop material formed in the wrapping chamber ismoved axially of the rollers so that it can be cut into pellets anddischarged. The rate of the axial movement of the elongated roll isvaried by changing the rotational speed of a spindle 47 relative to therotational speed of the rollers 11, 12 and 13.

The spindle 47 extends axially through the wrapping chamber and isconstantly rotated by a hydraulic motor 48. The speed of the motor 48 iscontrolled by a hydraulicpump 49 operated by a power shaft 51. Othersuitable drive units',"such as, for example, variable V-belt,electrical, or frictional, may be substituted for the hydrostatic driveunit shown, if desired. The pump, and the hydraulic motor, are regulatedby a linkage comprising spring loaded speed control arm 52 connected bya link 53 to oneend ofl a bell crank 54 having a fixed pivot 55. A link56, connected to the other end of the bell crank, has a sheave 57rotatably mounted in a clevis 58 at its other end. A cable 59 extendingaround the sheave 57 has its ends extending loutwardly around pulleywheels 61 and 62.. One end of the cable 59 extends through an aperturein the plate 38, and thev other end extends through an aperture in theplate 39. The ends of the cable are kept from being pulled out of theapertures in the plates 38 and 39 by stop members 63 and 64,respectively.

. When the brackets 27 and 28 are moved outwardly, by increases in therate at which the feed crop material is fed into the Wrapping chamber,the plates 38 and 39 force the stop members 63 and 64 outwardly, thuspulling the link 56 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 3. The pivotalmovement of the bell crank clockwise about the pivot 55 lifts the arm 52to speed the motor 48, and movement in the opposite direction slows it.The spring loading of the arm 52 (not shown) urges it toward its initialposition whenever the rate of feeding the crop material into thewrapping chamber is reduced.

The -spindle 47 Vis provided with an external helical thread 65-toprovide a more positive engagement with the feed crop material thatenters the wrapping chamber. The feed crop material is wrapped uniformlyinto an elongated roll, and is moved axially of the wrapping chamber ata rate proportional to the rate at which it is fed into the wrappingchamber; In this embodiment of the invention, the Wrapping rollers aredriven at a uniform speed, independently ofthe speed of the spindle, tocompress the feed crop material into the form of an elongated roll as itis moved axially of the wrapping chamber by the spindle, and therotational speed of the spindle is varied to regulate the rate of axialmovement of the elongated roll. When the wrapping rollers are movedoutwardly by an increase in the feeding rate, the load sensing meansactuates the speed control means to increase the rotational speed of thespindle, and thereby increases the rate of axial movement of theelongated roll. When the feeding rate decreases, the wrapping rollersmove inwardly, and reverse the procedure to show the axial movement ofthe elongated core. In this way, the density of the elongated feed cropmaterial enters the wrappin g chamber.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG- URE 4, the axialmovement of the elongated roll is controlled by the rotational speed ofthe wrapping rollers, rather than by the spindle. If a spindle is used,it is used merely as a mandrel upon which the elongated roll of feedcrop material is wrapped, and has no effect upon the rate of axialmovement of the roll. Although the load sensing means may be actuated bythe relative outward movement of the wrapping rollers in the embodimentof FIGURE 4, it is preferred to actuate it by a different part of theapparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention described in connection with FIGURES1-3, the load sensing means is actuated by the relative outward movementof the wrapping rollers. However, it may be actuated by other parts ofthe apparatus. For example, in the embodiment disclosed in FIGURE 4, theload sensing means is actuated by relative movement between two crushingrollers 66 and 67 mounted forwardly of the wrapping chamber in such amanner that the feed crop material passes between them before it entersthe wrapping chamber. Any change in the rate at which the feed cropmaterial passes between the crushing rollers causes relative movementbe-l tween them, and a torsion bar 68 that is connected to one end of alinkage, hereinafter described, is moved to vary the speed of the drivemeans for rotating the wrapping rollers.

The axis of the crushing roller 67 is fixed, Land the axis of thecrushing roller 66 is movable. The roller 66 moves outwardly, relativeto the roller 67, in response to an increase in the rate at which thefeed crop material passes between the rollers 66 and 67. Two arms 69 and71 are fixed to the shaft 72 of the roller 66 adjacent opposite ends ofthe roller, and the other end of each arm is fixed to the torsion bar 68that is journaled in fixed bearings 73 and 74. A link 75, fixed at oneend to the torsion bar, is connected to a speed control arm 76 by a rod77. The speed control arm is connected to a variable hydraulic speedtransmission 78 operated by a power shaft '79. The transmission 78furnishes the motive power to drive a chain 81.

An increase in the rate at which the feed crop material passes betweenthe crushing rollers causes the roller 66 to move outwardly from theroller 67, and thus rotates the torsion bar 68 in one direction toincrease the speed of the drive of which the chain 81 is a part. Thechain 81 drives four shafts 82, 83, 84 and 85 through sprockets 86, 87,88 and 89, respectively. The shafts 82, 83 and 84 are connected towrapping rollers 91, 92 and 93, respectively, and, since the sprockets86, 87 and 88 are of equal diameter, drive the wrapping rollers at thesame speed.

The wrapping rollers are each of hyperbolic shape, and are arranged inskewed relationship to form a wrapping chamber between them. The skewedrelationship between the wrapping rollers causes the elongated roll offeed crop material formed in the wrapping chamber to move axially towardthe discharge end of the wrapping chamber as it is formed. The angularrelationship of the wrapping rollers determines the speed of the axialmovement of the elongated roll when the rotational speed of the wrappingrollers is constant. Accordingly, the angularity of the wrapping rollersis adjusted to provide a specific rate of axial movement of theelongated roll at a predetermined rotational lspeed of the wrappingrollers. The density of the elongated roll of feed crop material remainsuniform as long as the rate at which the feed crop material passesbetween the crushing rollers remains unchanged.

If the feed rate increases, the crushing roller 66 is moved away fromthe roller 67 bythe increased amount of feed crop material. Theresultant movement of the linkage operates the speed control arm 76 toincrease the rotational speed of the wrapping rollers 91, 92 and 93. Theincreased rotational speed of the wrapping rollers causes the elongatedroll of feed crop material to be moved out of the wrapping chamber assoon as its density reaches the desired standard.

When the feed rate decreases, the crushing roller 66 moves toward theroller 67 and the speed control arm 76 is moved in the oppositedirection. The rotational speed of the wrapping rollers 91, 92 and 93 isdecreased to allow the elongated roll of feed crop material to remain inthe Wrapping chamber for a longer period of time. The rotational speedof the wrapping rollers is so adjusted that the axial movement of theelongated roll of feed crop material causes it to be moved out of theWrapping chamber when the roll reaches the desired density.

The shafts upon which the wrapping rollers are mounted are each providedwith means for adjusting the angular relationship of the rollers. Theshaft 82 has a pair of couplings 95 and 96 between its sprocket 86 andthe wrapping roller 91 to permit angular adjustment of the roller 91relative to the wrapping chamber. The shaft 83 has a pair of couplings97 and 98 between its sprocket 87 and the wrapping roller 92, and theshaft 84 has a pair of couplings 99 and 101 betwen its sprocket 88 andthe Wrapping roller 93, to permit angular adjustment of the wrappingrollers 92 and 93. The angular relationship between the wrapping rollersis not changed after the initial adjustment, because thereafter thespeed of the axial movement of the elongated roll is changed byvariations in the rate at which the feed crop material passes betweenthe crushingrollers, as described above, to maintain uniformity in thedensity of the elongated roll.

The feed crop material is directed from the crushing rollers into thewrapping chamber by a charging roller 94 that is driven by the shaft 85.The shaft 85 is provided with a pair of couplings 102 and 103 thatpermit angular adjustment of the charging roller. The shaft 85 has asprocket 104 mounted thereon to drive a chain 105 that engages asprocket 106 on a shaft 107 to rotate the crushing roller 66. Thecrushing roller 67 is similarly rotated through a chain 108 driven by asprocket 109 fixed to the shaft 82.

The wrapping rollers 91, 92, and 93 are protected by resilient mountingsagainst damage that might otherwise be caused by sudden uctuations inthe rate at which the feed crop material enters the wrapping chamber.The ends of the rollers 91, 92, and 93 remote from the driving mechanismare journaled in bearings 110, 111, and 112 that are mounted inindividually pivoted brackets 113, 114, and 115, respectively. Thebrackets are resiliently mounted and are provided with springs 116, 117,and 118 that are mounted on rods 119, 121, and 122, respectively. Thespring 116 is biased between the upper end of the bracket 113 and awasher 123 secured to the outer end of the red 119. The rod 119 extendsthrough an aperature in the upper end of the bracket 113 and is threadedinto a threaded opening in the upper end of the bracket 114. The spring117 is biased, in a similar manner, between the upper end of the bracket114 and a washer 124. The spring 118 is biased between the outer end ofthe bracket 115 andan extension 125 on the outer end of a base supportmember 126 similar to the base support member 26. A pin 127 extendingthrough one end of the support member 126 serves as a pivot for thebrackets 113 and 115. The bracket 114 is pivoted on a pin 128 extendingthrough the other end of the support member 126.

The springs 116, 117, and 118 permit instantaneous outward movement ofthe brackets 113, 114, and 115, respectively, in response to an increasein the rate at which the feed crop material enters the wrapping chamberso that no damage is done to the mechanism in the short interval of timethat may elapse before the speed control means oper- Vates to increasethe rotational speed of the wrapping rollers. The axial movement of theroll of feed crop material in the wrapping chamber is speeded up, in amanner hereinafter described, in response to any increase in thefeeding, rate, and the rollers 91, 92, and 93 are returned to theirinitial positions immediately after the speed adjustment. As in theembodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3, the springs 116, 117, and 118 may beadjusted to provideI any desired tension on the wrapping rollers.

Although two preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedin considerable detail, it will be understood that the descriptionthereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as manydetails of construction may be modified or changed without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is notdesired to be restricted to the exact structure described.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatusv for forming elongated rolls of feed crop materialcomprising a plurality of wrapping rollers arranged in skewedrelationship to provide a wrapping chamber therebetween, means forfeeding crop material into said wrapping chamber, means for rotatingsaid rollers in a common direction to form an elongated roll of cropmaterial in said wrapping chamber and 'to move it axially of saidwrapping chamber, speed control means for varying the axial movement ofsaid roll, and load sensing means operatively connected to said speedcontrol means for varying the speed of the axial movement of said rollin response to variations in the quantity of vcrop material handled bythe apparatus, whereby the density of'said roll of crop materialdischarged from said wrapping chamber may be maintained substantiallyuniform regardless of the rate at which said crop material is fed intosaid wrapping chamber.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in whichsaid means for feedingsaid roll axially of said wrapping charnber includes a spindle extendingthrough said wrapping chamber, and means operatively connecting saidspeed control means to one end of said spindle.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said apparatus having a linkagefor regulating said speed control means, and lbrackets for rotatablysupporting opposite ends of said wrapping rollers, each of said bracketsbeing movable in response to relative movement between said wrappingrolls caused by increases in the rate of feeding crop material into saidwrapping chamber, and means operatively connecting two of said bracketsto said linkage. I

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 and havingmeans urging return ofsaid brackets to their initial position upon reduction in the ra'te offeeding crop material into said wrapping chamber.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said apparatus having a linkagefor regulating said speed control means, and a pair of crushing rollerspositioned to receive between them the crop material being fed to saidwrapping chamber, said crushing rollers being rotatably mountedforwardly of said wrapping chamber, and means urging said crushingrollers toward each other, one of said crushing rollers being movableaway from the other in response to increases in the rate of feeding cropmaterial therebetween, and means operatively connecting said onecrushing roller to said linkage, whereby said speed control means isregulated by relative movement between said crushing rollers.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said means operativelyconnecting said one crushing roller to said linkage comprises a shaft onwhich said one crushing roller is mounted, a torsion bar rotatablymounted in spaced relationship to said one crushing roller, said torsionbar being fixed to one end of said linkage, and an arm rigidly securedto said shaft and said torsion Ibar for oscillating said torsion bar inresponse to movement of said one crushing roller relative to said othercrushing roller.

'7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 and-having resilient mountingmeans for one end of each of said wrapping rollers to permitinstantaneous relative movement between said wrapping rollersindependently of said speed 7 control means in response t variations inthe rate of feeding crop material into said wrapping chamber.

' 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which each of said wrappingrollers is mounted on a shaft having a pair of couplings between saidwrapping roller and themeans for 'rotating it, whereby each of saidwrapping rollers may be adjusted angularly with respect to said wrappingchamber."

' '9. An apparatus as recited in' claim 1 in which said load sensingmeans comprises a plurality of individually pivoted brackets arranged inpairs at opposite ends of eachlofsaid rollers, bearings mounted in eachof said brackets for rotatably supporting said rollers, and spring meansurging each of said brackets back to its initial position upon reductionin the rate of feeding crop material to said apparatus.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 and having two independentbrackets for rotatably supporting two of said Wrapping rollers, saidbrackets having upstanding parallel arms, spring means urging said armstoward each other, said load sensing means comprising a bell crankmounted on a lixed pivot, a link secured to one end of said bell crank,asheave secured to the other end of said link, and a cableextendingaround said`sheave with its ends connected to said arms,whereby outward movement of said varms initiates adjusting movement 0fsaid speed -control means.

- f References Cited l UNITED STATES PATENTS 961,997 6/1910 B611 t a1;100-s6 963,775 7/1910 Kiuman i 10o-43 963,823 7/1910 spoon 10o-43 XR1,331,016 2/1920 Kruse.l 10o-45 2,916,792 12/*1959 Crook et a1.3,316,694 5/1967` Mclcouy et a1 10o-.s6 XR BILLY J. WILHTE,PffmmExanhfr; i

